And it's not impromptu. There's a rehearsal video from The Warehouse earlier that day. They had it planned. It might have been a one-off performance, but it wasn't impromptu.

26
2 CDR
Label: 4DaFunk
Cat No: #4DF 076-077
Running Time: 75:44 / 76:35
Source: Audience Recording
Quality: EX- / EX
Released: December 2009

*Review*

Damn, we really are being spoiled this month and this release is no exception. It’s hard to be constructive when trying to find fault in a release, all in some vain bid to sound neutral or unbiased and I admit that I’m having a hard time doing so with this beauty. This, 4DF’s latest, is simply stunning and I don’t use that word lightly. What we have here is the infamous birthday concert from 1984 which has been around for some time now, featuring on many bootlegs in the past and I’ve no doubt a lot of you will be all too familiar with it. So if you’re wondering what’s so special about this version then just take a listen and you’ll soon see. The audio quality presented here is without a doubt the best I’ve heard so far of this recording and blows all other versions out of the water. Don’t get me wrong, we’re not talking soundboard here but there’s no doubting this is clear, crisp, clean and loud. 4DF boast in their liner notes that you won’t find a better quality recording and I can’t disagree with them. For a 25 year old tape to sound this good really is something to shout about.

Anyway, enough fawning and drooling, if you’re not familiar with the content here then you should be ashamed of yourself. Where have you been?! Seriously though, it’s an absolutely top-notch performance. Prince is on fine form and the Revolution have rarely sounded as tight or funky. Erotic City is as good a version as you’re likely to ever here and let’s not forget (how could we?) Roadhouse Garden and Our Destiny, which get their one and only live airing. Something very special indeed.

Disc 2 covers the rehearsal for the very same birthday show, recorded the proceeding month and, again, this has been around for some time with 4DF freely admitting to sourcing this version from Sabotage’s Purple Rush series. However, they’ve spruced it up somewhat giving a much clearer edge to it and with a fair bit of noise reduction going on. On top of that they have also correctly pitched the recording so now it plays as it should. That said, the recording is a little uneven in places(where the sound quality is concerned) and there are some fluctuations here and there but it’s not a huge problem and doesn’t detract too much from any overall enjoyment. It’s a nice little rehearsal but there’s no real surprises, encompassing the majority of what was performed on the night. However, if you enjoy this type of thing it’s kinda fun to listen to, especially if you follow it straight up with the main performance as I find it allows you to view some of the renditions a little differently than you may have previously.

It’s a great feeling that after all this time we can still be surprised by getting something fresh and new to listen to and I’ve no doubt this tradition will continue. Hunt this down get yourself a real gem of a release for your collection.

Did you read the thing about bootlegs?

If you have Purple Rush and 26, you have the goods.

http://thedigitalgarden.org/26.html

If you have Purple Rush and 26, you have the goods.

http://thedigitalgarden.org/26.html

squirrelgrease said:

What's that other site w/ the bootlegs? The one you listed doesn't have a lot in it, and it's shit that should be there. The other site even listed my two boots. I forget the site though. I remember it being more comprehensive.

udo said:

I didn't name the source. I didn't offer 2 give links nor am I asking 4 the name of the group/company of the distributor of the boot. I just want the name of the boot that was the best quality of that show. I just wanted 2 know others opinion on this. Then again, I think I have the better quality of the show already. Yet, I'm not telling.

So if you do not want to act UNamerican you should understand.

I do not need defensive laguage.
It is stuff out there that they (moderators, Prince, (C)-lunatics, etc) do not want you to discuss, obtain, etc.
So if you do not want to act UNamerican you should understand.

udo said:

Where is this "UNamerican" stuff coming from? Since when discussing a Prince boot is "UNamerican"? I understand what u're talking about and for the record u should look around this site and read the rules also. I'm a fan of Prince's music just like the rest of u all. Boots of Prince's music is still being discuss and still exist. We all know what was Prince motivation behind the 'Crystal Ball' album. He can still put 2gether projects from time 2 time and release them on the lotusflow3r site. Hey, that's here nor there. Whether it's here in American or a cross the otherside of the globe, it still exist. My post is not the first and won't be the last. Hardcore fans are gonna continue discussing those imfamous bootlegs. It's about how u discuss them and I do respect that and yet I don't want 2 step on no ones toes.

This whole thread is some bullshit now.

^ bullshit , discussing it is fine , besides you're not a moderator or are you now

btw what do you mean with unamerican ?
[Edited 1/6/10 7:43am]

squirrelgrease said:

Yeah, thanx 4 this. I never read the review. One thing I see they didn't mention the other/alternate take of this show which sounds like it's from a tape. It's not the version u all have where u hear part of the audience chatting a tiny bit after 'Our Destiny/Roadhouse Garden'. This one is a bit different.
[Edited 1/6/10 9:54am]
[Edited 1/6/10 9:54am]

^ bullshit , discussing it is fine , besides you're not a moderator or are you now

btw what do you mean with unamerican ?

udo said:

Where is this "UNamerican" stuff coming from? Since when discussing a Prince boot is "UNamerican"?

Dewrede said:

What does the moderator thing have to do with udnerstanding the way things work?


See?
Didn't you notice a trend in the behaviour of the **AA? The (C) lobby? The patent controversy? GMO developments?
And their government?

Dewrede said:

Udo always throws in some offhanded stuff about America when he gets the chance. I don't mind. The US did elect a President with an extra chromosome for 2 terms.

Dewrede said:

What does the moderator thing have to do with udnerstanding the way things work?


See?
Didn't you notice a trend in the behaviour of the **AA? The (C) lobby? The patent controversy? GMO developments?
And their government?

sms130 said:

If you notice what america is all about in and outside of their borders you will see that anything going against their industrial complexes, cartels, etc is seen as a thing that should disappear.
See the DMCA, See ACTA in the secret making, see the lobbies for all their controlfreak imperialistic yet failing things.
Now that is what makes the bootleg policy here as well. Not common sense, not ethics, but greed.

Now I jokingly draw the line a but farther by explaining the initial questions as asking for the materials, sure, but the idea is still the same.
They do not want you to know. They do not want you to have, unless they can make a direct buck of it.